This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 edition. Excerpt: ... THE AEK. "The Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thin house into the ark."--Gen. vii. 1. The story of the ark has been familiar to us from memory's birth. It gave interest to our earliest lessons. Its very name revives the instructions by a tender mother's side, or from some anxious teacher's lips. It brings us back to the first pages of our first Bible, and to our seats as children in our childhood's class. In a land of Christian teaching, most in their youth thus ponder the record of a wretched world's most wretched end. In thought they trace and retrace each particular, until the whole is vivid, as a witnessed scene. But they, who go no deeper, only trifle as with a nursery-toy. Their feet reach the threshold of truth's palace; but they enter not into the wide chamber, in which God dispenses light. They break not the box of precious ointment. They are like Hagar. A well of water is near.--She thirsts, but sees it not. Reader, be not deceived. The Bible is a mirror in your hands for this grand end, --that you may see therein a loving Saviour's loving heart, and a mighty Saviour's mighty deeds. He is the treasure of the field of Scripture. If you win Tfim, you are rich and wise for ever. If you win Him not, all other wealth is penury: all other knowledge is a brilliant folly. Act on this soul-saving principle; and never close the sacred pages, until you are cheered by the smile of Him, who is the smile of heaven. Come, then, and with holy longings after the light of life, let us contemplate the Ark. Jesus is there in all the glories of redeeming love. "Make thee an ark of gopher wood."--Here is no human forethought. It is a voice from heaven. But for what purpose? The reply pencils the dark back-ground, on which the bright features...